On 7 October 2026, IOMed Secretary-General Prof. Teresa Cheng delivered an Inaugural Talk at the Launch of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association (HKSOA) Academy at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. In her talk which was well-received among the audience, Prof. Cheng highlighted the relevance of IOMed, and mediation in general, to the shipping industry, as well as Hong Kong’s advantages in driving maritime mediation.
Prof. Cheng pointed out that dispute resolution in shipping cannot be viewed in abstract legal terms alone. The key question is not merely “Who is right?” The key question is often also “What is the most effective way to resolve the problem?”
She shared that earlier this year, IOMed successfully administered a maritime dispute involving a charter party chain between a Chinese party and a Singaporean party, resulting in a written settlement agreement. The success of this case showed that mediation can work effectively in the maritime sector even where the dispute is cross-border, commercially sensitive and contractually complex, and that IOMed can serve as a credible platform for such cases.
Prof. Cheng also emphasized that Hong Kong, the host city of IOMed Headquarters, is uniquely well placed to support the development of maritime mediation, given its common law system, independent judiciary and deep professional expertise.
She concluded by encouraging the maritime community to seriously consider mediation and IOMed as an effective option for resolving international disputes.
As the world’s first treaty-based intergovernmental organization dedicated exclusively to mediation, IOMed fills an institutional gap in the international dispute resolution architecture. With 48 countries having signed or acceded to the IOMed Convention, including 18 Contracting States, IOMed has garnered broad international recognition and confidence as a new option for peaceful settlement of international disputes.
